Big ... but not THAT big

[MU82]

Of course I hope MU wins the BET. But getting extra rest and staying healthy are not the worst consolation prizes.

In 2003, we had the bye in the CUSA tourney (no double-byes in that league). We lost our first game to UAB. Not sure this board existed, but if it did, I can just imagine the worried wailing that took place after that.

It ended up not turning out too bad for us, did it?

Many teams that win their conference tourneys go on to NCAA greatness. Many win their conference tourneys and then bow out quickly in the NCAAs. Many lose early in their conference tourneys and then have nice NCAA runs. There is no one recipe for success or failure.

I don't want us to lose to Louisville and I don't think we will. If we do lose, however, I'm not going to worry even a little bit ... as long as we stay healthy.

[Coleman]

See UCONN 2011

[NavinRJohnson]

Agree. For a team in MU's position, the only way this tournament really takes on any meaning is if they win it. I love that Sat night final in MSG...it just has a feel to it, and I would love MU to be there, but other than that not happening, little to be disappointed about.

[NavinRJohnson]

See UCONN 2011

What about them? What does that have to do with the post?

[ErickJD08]

I think our odds to win this thing are higher than a NC. I would be probably just as excited if we won either. So I am hoping we win this thing. Plus, you know if we win next year or the year after, people will discount it with the shuffling. Let beat these guys, and send these teams there merry way out of the BEast.

[brewcity77]

I'll be honest...right now I want us to end the season on a 10-game winning streak. When you're a top-10 team and playing as well as we are, why hope for anything less? I want the BET and NCAA crowns, and I don't think either is truly beyond us.

[MU82]

I know what Victor M. is saying. UConn got on an incredible roll, won five straight to take the BET last year and then won the national title. It was unprecedented. It also is apples and orange, because this year's Golden Warriors don't have to win 5 in a row to win the tourney.

Besides, I could just as easily counter with: See SYRACUSE 2006. They won 4 straight to take the conference tourney and then promptly got bounced from the "real" tourney by 12th-seeded Texas A&M.

I also could just as easily counter with: See MARQUETTE 2003. Oh wait ... I already did. Is there one MU fan who says: "Getting to the Final Four was OK, but I sure wish we would have taken the CUSA tourney."?

My point is there are many avenues to success in the NCAA tourney. Many avenues to failure, too. Whether we win the BET or lose to Louisville or something in between, I'm just not going to get too crazy about it -- because it's not the ultimate prize.

[karavotsos]

I know what you're saying, but I went pretty freaking crazy when MU won the Conf. USA tournament in 1997.  Not thinking about what would happen in the NCAA.  This would be exponentially bigger.  It's the Garden. 

I'll worry about next week next week.  Like both sides have said, what you do this week does not dictate what you do next week.  I want them to win this week.  Something something independent outcomes.

[Windyplayer]

My point is there are many avenues to success in the NCAA tourney. Many avenues to failure, too. Whether we win the BET or lose to Louisville or something in between, I'm just not going to get too crazy about it -- because it's not the ultimate prize.

I'll be pretty upset if they lose in the BEast tourney. Cause and effect between conference tournament games played and success in the Big Dance is too tenuous for me to take comfort in an all-too-short trip to NYC. That said, I won't be crushed, seeing as I'll be expecting bigger and better things on the horizon, but I'll no doubt be just as upset as I've been with any L this year.

[klyrish]

See UCONN 2011

What about them? What does that have to do with the post?

I'm assuming it had to do with this part:

In 2003, we had the bye in the CUSA tourney (no double-byes in that league). We lost our first game to UAB. Not sure this board existed, but if it did, I can just imagine the worried wailing that took place after that.

It ended up not turning out too bad for us, did it?

Since UCONN was, what...a 9 seed in the BET and ended up winning that along with the NCAA tournament

[MU_83_florida]

I know what Victor M. is saying. UConn got on an incredible roll, won five straight to take the BET last year and then won the national title. It was unprecedented. It also is apples and orange, because this year's Golden Warriors don't have to win 5 in a row to win the tourney.

Besides, I could just as easily counter with: See SYRACUSE 2006. They won 4 straight to take the conference tourney and then promptly got bounced from the "real" tourney by 12th-seeded Texas A&M.

I also could just as easily counter with: See MARQUETTE 2003. Oh wait ... I already did. Is there one MU fan who says: "Getting to the Final Four was OK, but I sure wish we would have taken the CUSA tourney."?

My point is there are many avenues to success in the NCAA tourney. Many avenues to failure, too. Whether we win the BET or lose to Louisville or something in between, I'm just not going to get too crazy about it -- because it's not the ultimate prize.



The problem I see there is not a single team in the Big East that I want to lose to, therfore we have to win the tournament

[Silkk the Shaka]

Exactly - we're in an awesome spot here.  Lose at any point and we wait to see which region our three seed is in on selection Sunday.  Win the whole damn thing and we get a week's worth of national praise, hang a banner, watch the WVU board melt down, then wait to see which region our two seed is in on selection Sunday.  It's either the best position we've been in heading into the tournament since 2003, or the best position we've been in since Al's glory years.  I'm gonna go ahead and say I'm fine with either scenario.

[bilsu]

I just want another shot at Notre Dame.

[Dawson Rental]

I just want another shot at Notre Dame.

Amen, brother.

[boyonthedock]

It's to not want to win the tourney. nothing but good things happen. read this to see why.

http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/2012/3/7/2851880/championship-week-conference-tournaments-college-basketball-ncaa

thorough takedown of this shortsighted unresearched opinion.

[dgies9156]

I "Getting to the Final Four was OK......."

Getting to the Final Four is OK ... been there done that!

Winning it is what matters!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Winning isn't everything... It's the only thing"  Vincent T. Lombardi


Coach Lombardi is right .. winning is everything. Let's win 'em both!

[jtsanto]

I know what you're saying, but I went pretty freaking crazy when MU won the Conf. USA tournament in 1997.  Not thinking about what would happen in the NCAA.  This would be exponentially bigger.  It's the Garden.  

Just so we are clear, that year they got KILLED by Providence. I would never use an example where we got destroyed as part of your argument. So let's not say that winning is really important.

This is a tough draw for MU team and fans. When we win tonight, we could play ND. I hate ND, and they beat us badly, so I want to win that game. So now we are in the finals. At that point we are in it so we should just win it.

I like the idea of rest. It does not happen often where the team wins both tournaments. Plus with our luck we would get a Thursday 11 a.m. game. Get home be healthy and start the run next week.

[klyrish]

I dunno about anyone else but I'm EXTREMELY excited and optimistic about the game tonight. It's all I can think and talk about an I can't even sit still in my chair now.

[MU82]

It's to not want to win the tourney. nothing but good things happen. read this to see why.

http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/2012/3/7/2851880/championship-week-conference-tournaments-college-basketball-ncaa

thorough takedown of this shortsighted unresearched opinion.

Excellent link.

I never said I hope we lose. All I'm saying is if we lose, I'm not going to go all gloom-and-doom. Many teams have failed to win their conference tournament but have gone on to have NCAA tourney success. The linked story shows that is true. It also shows that winning the tournament shouldn't hurt our chance of success and very well might enhance it (as long as we stay healthy).

[brewcity77]

Here's the thing...

If we lose in the second round of the tournament, what are we left with? If we go out today, absolutely nothing. But if we win 3 games in 3 days, no matter what happens the rest of March, we go into next season as the Big East champs. We hang a banner as the Big East champs. In any given season, you really only have 4 chances to do something special.

The first is in the non-con tournament. We did that in the Paradise Jam. Okay, it's not Maui or the Preseason NIT, but it was the chance we had and we made the most of it.

The second is the conference season. We suffered an early injury and after losing to SU in January, could have ran the table the rest of the way and not caught them. We had our highest ever finish and won more games in Big East play than any Marquette team ever. Didn't quite make the most of it (would have required us to go at least 17-1) but I'd say we did very well.

The third is the conference tournament. This is a chance to hang a banner and do some things we haven't done before -- win a Big East title and win 3 games in 3 days at MSG. No matter what has happened before this week, no matter what happens after this week, this week has the potential to be magical and of massive importance. Win these and that's something that we will all remember for as long as we are Marquette fans.

The fourth, obviously, is the NCAAs (or NIT for Al ). I hope we do great there. I hope we get to a Final Four, a national final, win the whole damn thing. But if we don't, that doesn't lessen the opportunities we were given in the three previous instances. And if we are upset in the 2nd round, that doesn't take away the P-Jam, our best ever Big East finish, or a potential Big East tourney title. And if we did win it all, that would certainly lessen the hurt massively, but it wouldn't take away any failures we might have over the next three days.

So right now, this is it. The Big East tourney is it. This is what we've played our entire season for. To have a double-bye, to only have to win three times to bring home a trophy, and to put ourselves in the best possible position going forward, not just into March, but with recruits and with the memories we'll have for Jae and DJO. So let's win these three and have something to remember, because it IS that big.

[StillAWarrior]

Here's the thing...

If we lose in the second round of the tournament, what are we left with? If we go out today, absolutely nothing. But if we win 3 games in 3 days, no matter what happens the rest of March, we go into next season as the Big East champs. We hang a banner as the Big East champs. In any given season, you really only have 4 chances to do something special.

The first is in the non-con tournament. We did that in the Paradise Jam. Okay, it's not Maui or the Preseason NIT, but it was the chance we had and we made the most of it.

The second is the conference season. We suffered an early injury and after losing to SU in January, could have ran the table the rest of the way and not caught them. We had our highest ever finish and won more games in Big East play than any Marquette team ever. Didn't quite make the most of it (would have required us to go at least 17-1) but I'd say we did very well.

The third is the conference tournament. This is a chance to hang a banner and do some things we haven't done before -- win a Big East title and win 3 games in 3 days at MSG. No matter what has happened before this week, no matter what happens after this week, this week has the potential to be magical and of massive importance. Win these and that's something that we will all remember for as long as we are Marquette fans.

The fourth, obviously, is the NCAAs (or NIT for Al ). I hope we do great there. I hope we get to a Final Four, a national final, win the whole damn thing. But if we don't, that doesn't lessen the opportunities we were given in the three previous instances. And if we are upset in the 2nd round, that doesn't take away the P-Jam, our best ever Big East finish, or a potential Big East tourney title. And if we did win it all, that would certainly lessen the hurt massively, but it wouldn't take away any failures we might have over the next three days.

So right now, this is it. The Big East tourney is it. This is what we've played our entire season for. To have a double-bye, to only have to win three times to bring home a trophy, and to put ourselves in the best possible position going forward, not just into March, but with recruits and with the memories we'll have for Jae and DJO. So let's win these three and have something to remember, because it IS that big.

I really never do this, but I'll make an exception.

+1

[CTWarrior]

I like the idea of rest. It does not happen often where the team wins both tournaments. Plus with our luck we would get a Thursday 11 a.m. game. Get home be healthy and start the run next week.

If we win Saturday night, we will get a 2 seed.  If we get a noon start on Thursday, we will have 4 1/2 days rest before the first game against the likes of Loyola, MD.  I don't get the idea that we need to rest.

More importantly, a loss tonight opens the door for a 4 seed.  I don't think that will happen, but winning tonight eliminates any possibility of that happening.  

Finally, winning the Big East is a really big deal.  I want us to win these games!

[spiral97]

I just want another shot at Notre Dame.

And Syracuse.. beat both of them and not only will we have the BE Tourney under the belt but we'll have beaten every BE team in one season.. that'd be a very nice end to this era of the BE.

[The Lens]

Finally, winning the Big East is a really big deal.  I want us to win these games!

This...and we have a chance to play in Madison Square Garden on ESPN in prime-time Thursday, Friday & Saturday.

If you can be on National TV, in the World's Most Famous Arena, you do it.  Rest be damned.

[klyrish]

I really never do this, but I'll make an exception.

+1

Yeah...that was a really awesome post and really helped me get MORE excited for tonight